So, I was thinking earlier about some older names from my family's history, and how some of them are actually very nice. Most of these names are from my grandparents' and great-grandparents' generations. Thoughts?

Boys

Rives (prn. Reeves. This one has actually been used on both genders, but I more associate it with boys since it's the middle name of my brother, father, and grandfather).

from your girls list Agnes stands out to me. It is such a pretty but underrated name, and I can picture a little girl Agnes as well as a 20 or 40 year old.

I really do like Clarence from your boys list.

Nancy is a name I absolutely can't stand (probably because in Germany Nancy is one of those names uneducated people find really cool and American-sounding so it has a widely recocnised negative connotation here). I always found it interesting how some names are perceived in other countries.

I have never heard Beulah or Ethel or Etta and would not use them. Other than those 4, I like all of the names on your female list and could picture all of them as awesome choices for a little girl. They could be combined with a more "stylish" name for a modern twist.

From what I saw, Agnes, Mildred, Irene, Beatrice are among a group of names becoming very pupular again (the generation that associates old warty aunts with those names is now the Grandparent generation). Seeing as I don't like modern, made-up names, I instantly find myself drawn to old-fashioned names. Thanks for the inspirational list!

from your girls list Agnes stands out to me. It is such a pretty but underrated name, and I can picture a little girl Agnes as well as a 20 or 40 year old.

I really do like Clarence from your boys list.

Nancy is a name I absolutely can't stand (probably because in Germany Nancy is one of those names uneducated people find really cool and American-sounding so it has a widely recocnised negative connotation here). I always found it interesting how some names are perceived in other countries.

I have never heard Beulah or Ethel or Etta and would not use them. Other than those 4, I like all of the names on your female list and could picture all of them as awesome choices for a little girl. They could be combined with a more "stylish" name for a modern twist.

From what I saw, Agnes, Mildred, Irene, Beatrice are among a group of names becoming very pupular again (the generation that associates old warty aunts with those names is now the Grandparent generation). Seeing as I don't like modern, made-up names, I instantly find myself drawn to old-fashioned names. Thanks for the inspirational list!

That's really interesting about Nancy. I never would have thought it was thought of as particularly American-sounding (I would have expected something like Britney or Ashley, actually). Here it's just thought of being a little old-fashioned, but isn't negatively perceived.

As far as Agnes goes, it's actually one of my least favorite of my names on this list, so we obviously have different naming styles.

You have some great names in your fam! I like quite a few, Rives is neat and I like Abner and Wallace a lot. Jane, Victoria, Ruth, Lillian, Ruby, May, Etta, and Agnes are lovely! I especially love May and Etta <3